Police Officer Curtis Avery Van Derson
Creswell Police Department
Oregon
End of Watch: Friday, November 5, 1971

Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, November 5, 1971
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Released after 14 years

Officer Curtis Van Derson was shot and killed when he was ambushed while responding to a bank robbery call. He was shot by a suspect armed with a rifle who was in an ambush position across the street from the bank.

The suspect who murdered Officer Van Derson served only 14 years in prison for the murder. He later was convicted of manslaughter for another murder and was again released from prison. In 2008 he was convicted of attempted murder for a plot to murder a Lane County deputy district attorney.

Officer Van Derson was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.